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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Women Bike PHL Interview #2: Lisa M. Rau

Lisa M. Rau is a state court judge in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

How long have you been
biking? How did you get started?

I began bike commuting when I became an empty nester, almost
two years ago. I bike commuted during law
school years ago. Back then, I did it
for financial reasons because I couldn’t afford a car but I ended up absolutely
loving it. My husband started bike
commuting about four years ago, which I thought was really cool, but I didn’t do
it because I wanted to be home for the kids for dinner and they had events
after school. It just didn’t seem like
there was enough time. I no longer had
an excuse after the younger one went to college. I tried it on a weekend to see
what that was like and then I was hooked.

What kind of bike do you
ride? What’s your approach to choosing your bike for commuting?

I initially had a clunker because I wasn’t convinced that I was
going to be a bike commuter. My husband finally convinced me to get a better
bike, because my bike was so heavy that when we rode together I was holding him
back. So for my birthday last year he gave me a nicer bike. Having disc brakes
and all that kind of stuff has been great. The ride is much smoother now.

How long is your
commute?

It’s an hour, almost exactly 10 miles door to door.

Is your commute very
hilly?

Oh, there are hills. Riding home, there’s a hill no matter
which way you go. When I first started doing it, I’d be changing into my bike
gear and thinking about that horrible hill. I realized that I was ruining the
entire ride by thinking about it. I don’t have to go up the hill fast, I can
even walk up the hill! Not that I ever do. The hill reminded me of the
obstacles that you have in life. If you spend all your time worrying about
them, you’re going to have a lousy life. Besides it is usually not as bad as
you anticipate. So I don’t mind the hill anymore.

Do you ever do the same
commute in a car or on public transportation?

I don’t bike commute every single day; I do it probably half
the time. I’ll commute in a convertible or a pickup truck other days.

How do you feel on days
when you bike in versus drive in?

The biking takes maybe 10 or 15 minutes longer. But on bad traffic
days it’s the same amount of time. It's kind of fun to ride by all the cars with
people who look frustrated by the back up, and I’ve got the wind blowing
through my hair. And then I’ve done my exercise for the day, too.

The ride to work is prettier on the bike. To me it feels safer
on the bike because most of my commute is through a park. The bike lanes have
really changed the commute too. One of
the streets I take now has a bike lane. It used to be you had to really dodge
traffic, but now there is often more bikes than cars. The cars have grown
accustomed to having bikes there, so it’s not as dangerous.

When I bike in I feel like I’ve had a mini-vacation before I
get to work, so my mental attitude is just a completely different thing. I’ve
already have fun, and sort of carry that into the office. My staff can usually
tell when I’ve biked in. I just feel a little bit happier.

Does biking give you
more opportunities to interact with the community?

When you drive in, you’re sort of in your own little glassed-in
world, whereas when you bike you get used to seeing the people with their kids
standing at the corner waiting for the school bus or the runner who doesn’t
feel like running one day, but who the next day is happily speeding along. You also really take in the outdoors which is
a nice combination of invigorating and relaxing.

We have a lot of people in my office who have been bikers too. My court officer bikes in from West Philly, my
former law clerk used to bike from South Philly, interns frequently bike so
there’s a culture in the office of people coming in with their helmets.

How do you deal with
logistics, like helmet hair, and looking professional after a sweaty summer
day?

That was one thing I was convinced was going to be an issue. I
have a closet in my husband’s office with all my work clothes, and I bike down,
put my bike in his bike garage, and do that kind of superwoman change in the
phone booth thing, and put on my geeky work clothes.

Before I set up the whole closet thing I used panniers to carry
my gear. I thought they would make the bike unbalanced or way too heavy, but I
don’t really notice them. You just hook them on the back of the bike and you
can bring whatever clothes you need for work. Gear is important, there are
those hats you can put on under the helmet which sort of mitigate helmet hair.

Many of the things I initially saw as big problems with
commuting to work weren’t that hard to deal with after all.

Do you bike through the winter?

I do. I didn’t think I would, because I’m a total wimp when it
comes to cold, and this experienced commuter said to me, “gear is everything.”
And it is, it totally is! If you’ve got the right gear it doesn’t feel that
cold, but you’ve got to have the right gear.

Are you athletic in
other ways?

I used to be a runner, but it is hard on my knees and my back.
I was a little devastated when I couldn’t keep running, and I never thought I’d
find a sport I liked as much. I really didn’t see cycling as a viable
replacement, but I feel differently now. Bike commuting makes it so you don’t
think anything of walking a long distance anymore, it really does overflow into
making you feel generally more active. I
also am an avid fan of yoga which is a nice counter to cycling.

Any words of
encouragement for people who are starting bike commuting?

It doesn’t take an Olympian to do it. That’s one of the things I like about it,
you’ve got all different kinds of people commuting. You just need enthusiasm. Its not racing; its riding. For anyone who’s contemplating it, I would
try it on a weekend, and see what it feels like. You’ll be amazed at the people out there who
are biking. It’s pretty addictive once you start it.

Do you see yourself continuing
to bike commute in the future?

I do. My dad is 84 and he just sold his bike a year and a half
ago, so I figure I still have a ways to go.

[Ed note: 4/24/13, 1:05pm: this interview has been updated since its initial publication.]

This interview is part of our Women Bike PHL Campaign. If you are, or know, a woman who would be a good subject for a profile, contact Katie Monroe at katie@bicyclecoalition.org. Interview conducted and transcribed by Claudia Setubal. Illustration by Meredith Bentley.